Heater



G. F. VASEY Nov. 25, 1930.

HEATER Original Filed Miy 18. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov; 25, 1930. I G, F, vAsEg 1,781,941

HEATER Original, Filed May 18, 19 27 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 25, 1930 I ereaearwvasrm or. mama. sammmaassmmmo KIDQEEJY commnr, or SCEAN'EQEPEMNSXLYANIA; A1. QRPQ MJQN 11 1mm;- 0 -i y a quickly installed sive grades as'well as the pplication led Her ,927;

This inventionirelates to a coal burner adaptedto be installed: in various forms of furnaces and a other heaters forlfefl'ecti-ng a morecomplete and perfectcombustion of the fuel than has heretofore been practiced-L Themain object is to provide a simple,

practical andhighly efficient fuel burner of this character" capable of being easily and; any heater-and compris ing what may bete'rmed a triplex construction in that itinvolv'es the use of three essential grate elements 'assembledin such relation as toproduce complete combustion and incinerationof' the smaller andleast expen various other grades of anthracite and other resulting'in a greatlyreduced cost of operation of the heater; maximum intensitybf heat from a given quantity of fuel, and minimum loss of combustible gases liberated combustion chamber to the draft Inother words, have sought to produce and to maintain a multi-stage conversion of thefuel into heat, first by distillation and disi tribution of the gases from and into the fuel,

quantity" of fresh air to heatdeveloped by 1 ,yplete combustion of combining these gases with a suflicient I produce the desired combustible rnixture,and third, to utilize the distillation for the comthe mixture in the com the heater, 1 to construct and assemble second,

bustion chamber of Another object is the fuel-supporting sections of the burnerin such along downwardly converging surfaces thereofto a relatively narrow intervening passage manner as tocause the fuel to gravitate at the bottom near the angle of convergence so that the downward feed of the fuel along said surfaces willbe in opposition and thereby effect an auto naticvretention of the fuel ,against'excessive discharge through the 1ntervening space at the bottom thereby estabinclined surfaces 1 i ilishingwhat may be termed an angle ofre pose ator near the line of convergence of the A further object is to place the horizontal grate'in a plane below but adjacent the line i of convergence of the'inclined surfaces of the superposed grate sectionsandacrossthe carbonifeifous I fuels,

ial o: 92%".- w rd v s a 1939- intervening space to receivetheyash as it is the anglesof repose. I r i Another Object is tosupport the horizontal i grate in such mannerthat backand forthinlits plane relatively to the r it may be movedsuperposecl sections. r

Another object is to provide a "single support'for thethree grates without interfering with thefreefliberation of ashes to thefunden lying ash box, not shown. Q

dlscharged through said space and'to define Another object is-toprovide means for.

raising and lowering one of the fuel support;

gratesrelatively to the"othergrate-sections for agitating the fuel, when desired. r i

as Another obj ect. is to provide""mean s for supporting the burner at different heights" relatively to the heater in which it is installed as may be required according tothe height of the draft pipes'leadin from-the combustion chamber tothe main ue or chimney.- Other objects-anduses of the burner will be brought out inthe following description. In thedrawings i y V Fikure 'lv is a top planof my improved coal urner as used in heaters havingcin cular combustion chambers. H r Figure 2 i s a vertical sectional view-ofthe same burner taken on line 2 -2, Figure 1 Figure is a horizontal sectional view tak;

en inf-theplanes of line 3+3; Figure 2. a V

side elevation of the grate supporting frame or spider showing'a portion of the lower hOr-izon'talgrate andalso the lower portion of the center grate. c

Figure15 is a side ,elevation partly'in'section, of the lower horizontal'grate andfoperatingineansjthereforto ether with a por tion of the supporting frame, and center grate, the dotted lines indicating the operating, means for raising and lowering the center grate. a p

Figure 6 is a plane of the operating lever for the center grate; i r

Figure 7 is a diagrammaticiview of the cross sectional portion of thellowerfhorr zontal grate and adjacent lower ends of the superposed grates, illustrating what is meant by the angle of repose of the body of fuel.

As illustrated, the burner comprises a lsys;

of the two surfaces falls tem of, in this instance, three grates -1-, -2 and 3 together with a suitable supporting frame t, the grates 1- and -2 being provided with opposed downwardly converging fuel-engaging surfaces having their lower ends disposed in approximately the same horizontal plane and in horizontally spaced relation to form an intervening opening --5-- for the discharge of ashes therethrough while the horizontal grate 3 is disposed in a plane below the lower ends of the fuel-engaging surfaces of the grates -1 and -2 to extend across and beyond opposite -5 for receiving from said opening.

The angles of inclination of the fuel-engaging surfaces of the grates 1- and 2 have a more or less definite relation to a horizontal plane and to each other in that the vertex aof the angle of convergence below the opening 5 and between the lower ends of the grates 1- and 2- and upper surface of the horizontal grate 3 so that the gravity feed of the fuel along both inclined surfaces of the grates -1- and -.2- toward the vertex a will oppose each other and establish what may be termed an angle of repose or angle of retention of the fuel whereby the feed of the fuel through the opening 5 is automatically checked or retarded.

This angular relation and relative disposition of the grates 1 and 2 to the horizontal grate 3- and also the relative width of the grate 3- and opening 5 together withthe distance of the grate 3 the ashes discharged from the lower ends ofthe grates 1- and -2 are based upon the normal angle of repose or self-retention which a body of coal of pre-determined grade would assume when piled up from a base of definite width or area somewhat as illustrated in Figure 7.

The upwardly converging lines -b, Figure 7 indicate the angles of inclination (about 45) of a body of buckwheat coal normally at rest on the horizontal grate 3- from edge to edge thereof while the grates 1 and -2 terminate at the inclines b to check the downward flow of the fuel outside of said lines or beyond the inner and outer edges of the grate 3.

It, therefore, follows that the grate 3 may be made of different widths and placed at different levels relatively to the grates 1- and -2 and that the grates -1 and -2- may also be placed at slightly different angles and at different positions along the lines -b.

It is found, however, that the grates 1 and 2 should be placed at about and 30 respectively from a horizontal to give the best results for the smaller and cheaper grades of coal.

walls of the opening,

The intervening space between the lower ends of the grates 1 and -2- together with their angles of inclination in automati cally checking or retarding the escape of the fuel through the space 5 constitutes one of the important features of the invention in that it cooperates with other features of the grates -1-- and -2- in establishing and maintaining three distinct stages of combustion of the fuel, viz: the distillation-stage in the zone or area of the fuel directly over the surface of the grate *2 where the gases are distilled off or liberated from the fuel, the mixing stage in the zone or area of the fuel adjacent and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the grate -1 where fresh air is mixed with the liberated gases; and the complete combustion stage in the zone or area immediately adjacent and above the surface of the fuel or combustion chamber of the heater where the mixture of carbonous gases and air is burned resulting in a maximumintensity of heat sufficient to incinerate the entire mass of coal from the top and sides downwardly or in reverse order from the distillation, mixing and combustion stages.

For the purpose of supporting combustion for the initial distillation of the fuel the grate -2 is provided with vertically spaced rows of apertures 6- extending therethrough at different levels and communieating with the atmosphere through the underlying ash box, not shown, but commonly used in this type of heater.

The grate -lis also provided with vertically spaced rows of openings 7 at different levels from bottom to top for admitting air which is by-passed from the exterior of the heater through the ash bOI-I and thence through the openings 7 to mix with the distilled gases and to cause the mixture to be distributed through the fuel to effect complete combustion of the gases and also complete incineration of the coal.

In other words, the body of fuel within the grate l-' and resting upon he grate 2- is first ignited at the surface of the grate 2 to which the air is admitted through the openings 6- to support combustion of the fuel immediately above the grate for distillation purposes.

Then as the gases are liberated. and distributed through the superposed body of fuel the air is admitted through the openings 7- to mingle with the gases and thereby to effect combustion of the latter by the same heat which produces the distillation or liberation of the gases.

This mixture permeates the entire mass of coal above the grate 2- and burns with a maximum intensity at the surface and within the combustion chamber and also effects a complete incineration of the fuel solids.

This complete and rapid combustion of the gases reduces to a minimum the liability of es capeiof any of thejlive gases"from; the heater while the complete incineration er the I fueltogether with the downwardlyconverging surfaces of the grates and-12+ enables the ashes to readily precipitateonto the underlying horizontal grate.j 3;-- which may be shaken at intervals when desired to discharge the ashes into the underlying ash pit,-notshown.c. 1

- The grates -i land --2f-, as illustrated; are finstoconioal and grate 3'-' is. circular, but obviously the shape and size may be ma terially modified togconformto heaters of different shapes and si-Zes'without departing from the spirit of this invention so long asthe' surfaces of the grateseei-l and 2 converge izdownwardly I to form. an intervening space between their lower ends the vertex of the angle in approximately verti cal al inement with the openingor space and a between the lower ends of ithegratesel and +2'\ and upper'su-rtace ofthe underly-i mg ash grate: i i

The; main "supporting frame coma prises -in. thisxinstance, a; central hub -8 co-aXial-with the grates '1, '2+ and and prorvidedwith a central vertical opening +9 for receiving a central downwardly ex'tending 'stem .,:l0e o-fithe grate: 1 .2, theu pperportion otwhich is, enlarged to'torm a1sh'oulder"]4l adapted tenor-J lllitlily rest "upon then-pper end ofthe hub undue downwardmovement, while permittingitsfree vertical movement J i I The vertlcal opening ,9-1n the hub:

ti2-+ a re angular :or substantially square in cross section to hold; the grate 2 ;ag ainst angular movementrelatively tothe' huh Thehuh is provided with a plurality oi in this instance tourgioutwardly project- 1 1 fl g 1 arranged .Hl uniformly,

spaced relation? rcumferentiallyas shown inFig ure 3' for operative connection with a corresponding number otisupportinggarms Y which also serve as a means for supporting t-he grate in a manner presently described.

The inner endsot the arms;

vided with recesses in corresponding upright faces thereof for receiving the corre sponding flanges -12+ of the hub and thereby supporting said hub against relative vertical 1novement,the recesses beingopen at corresponding sides or facesto. permit-the flanges i 12t0 readily enter the same by relativeangular movement of the hub relatively to thearrns, or, byareverse angular movement the flange 12 may be disengaged from theirrespective recesses -l4-e.

Whenlthe flanges v12+of the hub' are; properly seated in their respective re-- cessesf++l 4.-'-- they QalfQwQlQLIILPQQlijtQ the hack to another.v

shownmorecleai'ly in Figures. 3 that l r The recesses are preferably formed onicorresponding sides of u standing lags to afford lower upperandback walls against ive position upQnthenmer ends otrthe arms. 5

the lower ends of the meeting edges of said sections being provided with the downwardly extending lugs -19, w-hich'fare seated in [the apertures '-18 to hold "the grate against circumferential movementfrel ative ly to its supporting arms r l The'object-in making the arms 13- sepa{ rate fromthefhub 8 is to permit the use of arms of different lengths for iurnaceso-f' different sizes with 1 the: same hub thereby avoiding the necessity ofreplacingthe fentire framein changing from one size heater The frame-4+ is adapted to be supported uponor within the ash box commonly used in heaters of this character and in order that the same frame may be used for heaters of difierent sizes the arms i3 are provided witha-djacent" extensions l9"- secured to the underside thereof by bolts -20-,Figure 2," and provided with lengtha wise slots-21 as shown inthe lower left handof Figure 2for receiving said bolts and n permitting the extensions 1 9'I to be adjusted laterally and, if necessary, circumferentially with reference to the bolts 20 as may be necessary for attachment of saidex- Eensions to existing supports upon the r ash In the use of coalbnrners of this type it is desirable to support it in such manner that it may be adj ustedvertically for the purpose of lengthening orshorteningthe fire travel 1 i of the gases as may be necessary in the use of the burner in di'fl'erent heaters in which the height of the draftfiue varies.

For example, if the burner is too close {to the stack and the fire travel through the in tervening space is too short to permit the gasesto give offtheir heat the "live heated r gases will be carried into the stackat a relatively high temperature and consequent loss of heat for distribution through the heat distributing chamber of the heatergor, where i the distance offire travel bet-weenthe com bustionclaamberand the-exit of the combustion chamber and burner is too great the draft would be somewhat unduly retarded to such an extent as to reduce complete combustion of the gases resulting in obstructing the free flow of the products of combustion through the draft flue or chimney.

In'order to overcome these objectionable results in the simplest possible manner the outer ends of the arms 19 are-provided with vertical apertures 22 for receiving vertically adjustable supporting legs -23- which are held in their adjusted positions by set screws -24 and are provided with offset feet or hangers 25-adapted to rest upon such supports of the ash box as may be available, said legs being reversible as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2 in addition to their vertical adjustability to permit the frame to be supported on the ash box either from above or below the extensions -19.

The upper surfaces of the arms -13 between the lugs 16- and flanges 17 are substantially flat and horizontal for receiving and supporting the horizontal grate 3 which is provided with annular ribs 8 concentric with the axis of the hub 8- and extending entirely around the outer end edges of the lugs 16, the lower edges of the ribs -3 being rounded in cross section so as to reduce their area of contact with the underlying portions of the arms 13.

The grate 3- is oscillatory about its axis for removing the ashes therefrom and for this purpose the grate 8 is preferably divided diametrically in opposite half sections having their meeting edges spaced a suflicient distance apart toreceive between them the reduced upper ends of a pair of downwardly projecting studs 26.

A shaker rod 27- is adapted to be connected at one end to the lower ends of either one of the studs 26- where it is held in operative position by a cotter key -28, the outer end of the shaker rod being extended to the front of the heater and is provided with a handle 29 by which it may be operated back and forth at will for effecting the angular movement of the grate -3.

The stem --1() of the center grate -2 extends above and below the upper and lower ends of the hub 8- and is preferablywhollow the major portion of its length and provided near its lower end with air inlets 30 communicating with the atmosphere preferably through the ash box, said stem being provided near its upper end with an air outlet 31 above the adjacent end of the hub 8 to allow air entering the stem to pass outwardly beneath and through the apertured portions of the grate 2.

The extreme lower end of the stem 10- is provided with an apertured lug 32 for receiving one end of a lever 33 having a pivotal pin 3et adapted to engage in a bracket 35 on one side of the hub 8 Operation When installing the burner in a heater the legs -23 with the extensions 19- thereon will first be placed in or upon the ash box of the heater either in the position shown by full lines in Figure 2 or in the position shown by dotted lines in the same figure after which s the arms -19 will be adjusted to the same level along the legs -Q3 according to the height at which it is desired to support the burner relatively to the combustion chamber and to the outlet for the products of combusa tion.

Following this operation the arms 13- will be placed in operative position upon the extensions 19 in uniformly spaced relation to the axis of the burner whereupon the v5 hub -8- will be placed in operative position with its flanges -12 in their respective recesses 14., the bolts -20 and -l5 being then tightened to firmly hold the arms 13 and hub '8 in their operative positions.

The grate 3- may then be placed in operative position upon the upper flat surfaces of the arms 13 and connected to its operating lever 27 in the manner described.

The grates 1 and 2 may then be placed in operative position upon the flanges 17-- and within the hub -8 respectively and the lower end of the stem of the grate 2- connected to its operating lever 33 in the manner described, thus completing the burner ready for receiving fuel, it being understood that the sections of the grate 1 will be placed in operative position one at a time and that their upper edges will lie in close proximity to the inner walls of the heater chamber in which the burner is installed.

The basket grate 1 extends from approximately the horizontal plane of the lower edge of the inner grate 2 some distance above the upper end of the inner grate for confining the fuel upon and around said inner grate.

The basket grate is then filled with coal from the upper surface of the inner grate to the top of or above the outer grate 1 with the result that the gravity feed of the fuel along the downwardly converging surfaces of the grates 1 and -2, is in oplUU Jpositibn,iiaarfiidularly at the :outlet or :5'or at the vertex-aaof convergence shakiug 016 the grate about its axls. 1

o futhe .fuel .flet' ontdihe the angle of 0011- e ahgle Of-retention g in the self-retention i fgethrough the on te g termed fth againstdiseha J underlyingg vengenee bein ut t-he opening xThls successive distillation, distribution fend ebmbustiouof the ga'sesjand incineration. 0f the fuel the manner describedare high? hrimpolttzm tfactors in the economic burnmg oi the smaller. grades as well as YQIIiOI IS other grades o fcoal either anthraeite, Orbitaminous andwhen considered in connection withgthe provision Of means forladjusting The LO I'VEi iJStI'aij'fi of upperlsurfaee ofjthe i be ignited 1i1i*&hy vWel ported bythe-introd openings in the the burner to different heights as may prove most eificie nt according to difiel ent le rels of of'tlieiisuperpos zedfrieeseff unburned fuel reframe having upstanding apertured flanges, an upwardly flaring basket grate having its lower end provided with lugs seated in the apertures in said flanges, and a horizontal grate supported upon the frame in a plane below the lower end of the basket grate in spaced relation thereto, said horizontal grate being adjustable angularly relatively to the basket grate and an upwardly tapered grate supported on the frame within the lower end of the basket grate.

7 A coal burner comprising a grate-supporting frame, an upwardly flaring basket grate having its lower end supported on said frame, a center grate mounted on the frame and provided with an upwardly tapering fuel supporting surface of less diameter than theinterior diameter of the lower end of the basket grate to form an intervening marginal space, and a horizontal grate supported upon the frame in a plane below the lower ends of the basket grate and the center grate to extend across the intervening space between the basket grate and center grate and having its upper face in a plane below the vertex of convergence of the surfaces of the basket grate and center grate.

8. A coal burner comprising a grate supporting frame, an upwardly flaring basket grate having its lower end supported on said frame, a center grate mounted on the frame and provided with an upwardly tapering fuel-supporting surface of less diameter than the interior diameter of the lower end of the basket grate to form an intervening space, and a horizontal grate supported upon the frame in a plane below the lower ends of the basket grate and the center grate to extend across the intervening space between the basket grate and center grate, and means for supporting the frame at different levels.

9. A coal burner comprising a grate-supporting frame, an upwardly flaring basket grate having its lower end supported on said frame, a center grate mounted on the frame and provided with an upwardly tapering fuel-supporting surface of less diameter than the interior diameter of the lowerend of the basket grate to form an intervening space, and a horizontal grate supported upon the frame in a plane below the lower ends of the basket grate and the center grate to extend across the intervening space between the basket grate and center grate, said frame being provided with laterally extensible supporting arms to conform to heaters of different sizes.

10. In a coal-burner, co-axial circular grates having opposed downwardly converging fuel engaging surfaces in spaced relation at the bottom, and a fuel-retention grate underlying the vertex of convergence of said surfaces and extending across said space, and means for oscillating the fuel-retention grate about the axis of the first named grate.

11. A coal-burner comprising a horizontal grate adjustable about a vertical axis, and additional upwardly extending grates arranged in horizontally spaced relation above the horizontal grate and having their lower ends terminating in planes above the horizontal "rate and their adjacent sides converg- D ing downwardly so that the vertex of convergence falls within the space above the opposite edges of said horizontal grate.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of May, 1927.

enonen r. VASEY. 

